Page 60 of The Perfect Gift

She held the jumper to her chest as though checking it for size and then her face lit up with a broad smile. ‘It’s too cute not to wear it, and who cares if it’s only us?’ She leaned across and kissed him. ‘Thank you, Ed. This is already the best Christmas Day I’ve had in a long time because I get to spend it with you.’ The words struck a chord somewhere deep inside him. He closed his arms around her and pulled her closer.

‘It’s my best so far too, because you are the most delightful, most unexpected gift.’ Their mouths met, a long, slow exploration that gradually grew in intensity as he found that spot that turned her into liquid fire. As they came together, it felt like he couldn’t pull her close enough to match the need to hold her, to show her how special she was and how much she meant to him. It had never been like this before.

Afterwards, Ed lay on his back with the familiar weight of Frankie’s head resting on his chest. He stared up at the ceiling and sighed inwardly as he admitted the truth he’d been ignoring. He was in love with her.

He’d always known it would happen one day, and it was just his luck it was with someone who’d made it clear she wasn’t looking for anything serious or long-lasting. Ed had always been the one with an exit strategy and he supposed he deserved to be on the receiving end for a change. Cupid or fate or whatever power drove humans to enmesh their lives together was having a right bloody laugh.

It was enough to make a grown man cry.

32

The day had started so wonderfully. Ed had been extra attentive and it was like he couldn’t keep his hands off her. Not that Frankie had any complaints about that because he was very, very good with his hands, not to mention all the other delicious parts of his body, but in the end she’d had to kick him out of the bathroom and lock the door after he thwarted her attempts to take a shower, or rather made a second shower necessary. She couldn’t turn up at his parents’ looking like she’d tumbled straight out of bed, after all.

The jumper fitted perfectly and the little snowman on the front made her smile every time she caught a reflected glimpse of it as she applied just a touch of make-up. All those hours bored in front of a mirror in one dressing room or another had been worth it to pick up the right tips so she looked good while still retaining a natural appearance. She set her lip brush down and gave her reflection a nod of encouragement. Ed had been a brilliant distraction up until now but the nerves that had been lurking in the background all morning were really starting to make themselves felt.

By the time they reached his parents’ front door, Frankie was shaking with pent-up adrenaline. Her body had gone into acting mode, converting her anxiety into the positive energy she would need to drive her through hours on stage or a long day of filming. This wasn’t a performance, though, and the people on the other side of the door weren’t an audience, they were her friends and Ed’s family. Their opinion mattered, because they mattered. He mattered.

‘You okay?’ Ed asked.

‘Give me a second.’ Frankie closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Then a second. Then a third. These are nice people, she told herself. Kind people.

When she opened her eyes, Ed was watching her with eyes full of sympathy and understanding. ‘Just be yourself, Frankie, and everything will be fine.’

Be herself? As if that wasn’t the scariest thing in the world. Well, there was no backing out now, she supposed, gripping the bag of presents tight enough to make her fingers ache. Ed raised his hand to knock on the door and there was no more time for pep talks because he opened it straight afterwards and she was inside and straight into a world of noise and chaos and laughter.

The hall was full of people and Frankie realised Rick and Anya must’ve arrived just before them because they still had their coats on. Anya was trying to help Freya out of hers while the little girl danced on the spot, excitedly relaying all the things Santa had bought for her to an indulgently smiling Jago. She was wearing red wool tights, a pink ballerina’s tutu and a very familiar-looking red jumper. Frankie shot a look at Ed, who just grinned back at her.

When Freya finally wriggled free of her jacket, Jago swept her up onto one arm and kissed her cheek. ‘Shall I let you into a little secret?’ he asked the little girl. Freya nodded, eyes wide. ‘When Santa came to visit us last night, he left some more presents for you here. Do you want to come and see?’

‘Yes, please!’ Freya turned to Anya. ‘Mummy! Mummy! Grandad says I’ve got more presents to open!’

‘Aren’t you a lucky girl?’ Anya replied as she unzipped her own coat and revealed yet another red snowman jumper. Beyond her, Rick was helping Ma and Pa with their coats and Frankie grinned as she realised they were sporting exactly the same tops. Anya turned and spotted Frankie, her eyes lighting up as she reached out to hug her. ‘Hello! Merry Christmas.’

Frankie hugged her back, feeling more relaxed by the second. ‘Merry Christmas.’ She unbuttoned her coat, parting the edges to show off her jumper. ‘Snap!’

Anya laughed. ‘Oh, thank God! I thought we were going to be the only ones.’ She glanced over at Ed, who was pulling off his coat to reveal his matching sweater. ‘Was this your idea?’

Ed raised his hands, all wide-eyed innocence. ‘For once I can definitely say it was nothing to do with me!’

There was a knock at the door behind them and he opened it to reveal Harry, Kat, Issy and Liam on the doorstep. ‘Oh my God!’ Kat exclaimed as she rounded on Harry with a glare. There wasn’t much else she could do, given they were both carrying cling-film-covered trays. ‘I knew you were up to something with those stupid jumpers!’

‘Don’t blame me!’ Harry protested, nodding at Liam. ‘It was all his idea!’

‘Grass,’ Liam muttered with a roll of his eyes.

‘I suppose it says something about the Penrose men and their powers of persuasion,’ Issy said with a grin as she opened her coat to show that she too had been convinced to wear the same top.

‘Come on in, you lot,’ Jago urged, still holding Freya. ‘I’m not paying⁠—’

‘To heat the whole street!’ the four brothers chorused.

‘Smart a—lecs,’ Jago corrected himself at the last minute, clearly conscious of little ears. ‘Take those into the kitchen,’ he added to Harry and Kat. ‘And see if you can prise your mother away from the oven for two minutes.’

‘I’ve got Ma’s trifle here,’ Rick said, holding up a supermarket bag-for-life.

‘Mum, Dad, come and sit down.’ Jago led his parents into a room on the left, still carrying Freya, and Anya followed. Immediately the hall began to feel less crowded.

‘I’ve got those things I bought for your parents,’ Frankie said to Ed, holding up the second bag she’d brought with her. ‘And the champagne needs to go in the fridge.’